Avenging Luna
Chapter 42: Confronting Leila

Chapter 42: Confronting Leila

Drake’s POV

After taking a few moments to compose myself—thanks to the little stunt Leila pulled before darting into the hospital—I finally made my way inside. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the lingering heat in my cheeks. Damn that woman knew how to get under my skin in the most delightful and infuriating ways.

As I walked through the bustling corridors, I spotted Leila standing near the waiting area, chatting animatedly with Nelly and Lucas. The three of them seemed to be sharing a lighthearted moment, laughter echoing softly amidst the sterile hospital environment. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight; seeing Leila so relaxed and happy warmed something deep inside me.

As I approached, Lucas looked up and immediately took note of my still-flustered state. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Hey Drake, why do you look so... flustered?" he asked, eyebrow raised in mock innocence.

Before I could respond, Leila and Nelly exchanged knowing glances and giggled. I shot Leila a playful glare, realizing she must have filled Nelly in on her little escapade in the parking lot.

Clearing my throat, I tried to regain some semblance of composure. "Just some morning excitement," I replied, keeping my tone neutral but unable to hide the slight twitch of a smile tugging at my lips.

Nelly chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, whatever it was, it certainly left an impression."

Leila’s eyes met mine, a hint of challenge dancing within them. She was clearly enjoying this, and despite myself, so was I.

"Alright, enough," I said, raising my hands in surrender. "We have more pressing matters to attend to."

Lucas’s playful demeanor shifted instantly, his expression becoming serious. Unlike Leila, both he and Nelly were unaware of the real reason I’d called them here today. It was time to change that.

"I wanted both of you here because there’s something you need to see," I began, my voice steady. "Something concerning Lily."

A flicker of concern crossed Nelly’s face. "Is everything okay? Is it about the baby?"

"In a manner of speaking," I replied, exchanging a brief glance with Leila, who gave me an encouraging nod.

"Let’s go," I said, gesturing toward Lily’s room. The four of us made our way down the hallway, the atmosphere growing heavier with each step.

As we entered the room, Lily was pacing back and forth, her face flushed with frustration. The baby was in a crib beside the bed, wailing loudly.

The moment Lily saw Nelly, relief washed over her features. "Oh thank goodness, Nelly! He won’t stop crying. I’ve tried everything!" she exclaimed, rushing over to grab Nelly’s hands.

Nelly immediately went into caretaker mode, moving toward the crib and gently picking up the crying infant. With practiced ease, she began to soothe the baby, his cries gradually subsiding under her gentle care.

Lily then turned her attention to me, her eyes immediately narrowing as she took in my presence. Her gaze flickered to Leila standing beside me, and her expression twisted into one of disdain.

"Nice of you to finally show up, Drake," she sneered, crossing her arms over her chest. "While you’ve been off gallivanting, marking and screwing your little plaything here, I’ve been stuck alone taking care of *our* son."

A low growl rumbled from my chest before I could stop it. The audacity of her words ignited a spark of anger within me, but I forced myself to remain calm.

"Watch your mouth, Lily," I warned, my voice cold.

She scoffed, taking a step closer, her eyes blazing with faux indignation. "Oh, did I touch a nerve? Sorry if the truth hurts. Or maybe you’re too busy flaunting that mark she gave you to care about your own child!"

At the mention of the mark, I saw her eyes zero in on the fresh symbol adorning my neck. Her face contorted with rage and something akin to jealousy.

"You left me here alone so you could go play house with her? How could you, Drake? I thought we meant something to each other!"

I took a deep breath, clenching my fists at my sides to keep my temper in check. "Enough with the theatrics, Lily. We’re here to talk about the truth."

Her eyes flashed with uncertainty for a split second before she masked it with defiance. "What truth? That you’re a neglectful father? That you care more about that tramp than your own flesh and blood?"

Leila bristled beside me, but I placed a calming hand on her arm, silently asking her to let me handle this.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out Leila’s phone and tapped the screen to bring up the recording. "No, Lily. The truth about your lies and manipulations."

Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly composed herself. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze never leaving hers as I pressed play.

The room filled with Lily’s own voice, clear and unmistakable, detailing every deceitful act she’d committed. She boasted about oiling the stairs, staging her falls, and framing Leila for attacks that never happened. Her words dripped with malice as she spoke of her plans to drive Leila away and secure her place beside me.

As the recording played, the color drained from Lily’s face. Her bravado crumbled, replaced by shock and fear. Nelly, still holding the now-quiet baby, looked utterly stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. Lucas’s jaw tightened, anger simmering beneath his usually calm exterior.

When the recording ended, a heavy silence settled over the room.

Nelly was the first to break it. "How could you, Lily?" she demanded, her voice shaking with emotion. "We trusted you. I trusted you! I thought you were my friend."

Lily’s eyes darted around the room, desperation evident in her gaze. "It’s not what it sounds like," she stammered, taking a step back. "That recording—it’s fake! They’re trying to frame me!"

Lucas shook his head, his voice cold. "Don’t insult our intelligence, Lily. That’s clearly your voice, your words. There’s no denying it."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked back at me, pleading. "Drake, please. You have to believe me. I did it all for us! For our family!"

I felt a surge of disgust twist in my gut. "There is no ’us,’ Lily. There never was. You lied, manipulated, and tried to destroy the woman I love. And for what? Your own selfish desires?"

Her facade cracked further, tears spilling down her cheeks. "But... but the baby! He’s yours! We can still make this work. We can be a family."

I exchanged a brief glance with Leila before turning back to Lily, my voice hard. "No, Lily. The baby isn’t mine. We had a DNA test done. The results were clear."

Panic flashed across her face, and she began to tremble. "No... no, that can’t be. You’re lying!"

Nelly’s gaze hardened as she looked down at the child in her arms. "Who’s the father, Lily?"

Lily’s shoulders slumped, and she seemed to shrink into herself. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, "I... I don’t know."

Lucas let out a bitter laugh. "Unbelievable."

I took a deep breath, trying to rein in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. "Lily, your actions have consequences. You’ve hurt so many people with your lies. It’s over."

She looked up at me one last time, desperation and regret etched into her features. "Drake... please. I’m sorry. I can make this right."

I shook my head slowly. "It’s too late for that."

Turning to Nelly and Lucas, I nodded. "Take care of the baby. Make sure he’s looked after."

Nelly nodded solemnly, holding the child closer to her chest. Lucas placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his expression grim.

Without another word, I took Leila’s hand, and together we walked out of the room, leaving Lily to face the consequences of her own actions.

As we walked down the hallway, Leila squeezed my hand gently, offering silent support. I looked over at her, gratitude and love swelling within me. Despite everything, we had faced this together, and together we would move forward.

"Thank you," I whispered, pulling her closer as we exited the hospital into the fresh morning air.

She smiled up at me, her eyes shining. "Always."

In that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as we had each other, we could overcome anything.